Fibromyalgia? ...Whats wrong with me??

Fibromyalgia and depression go together like sox and shoes, ham and eggs....no one knows which comes first, you can have depression with out fibromyalgia but rarely will you have Fibro with out depression, Stress makes fibro worse, Fibro has very distinct pattern of trigger points as well as generalized pain, the best treatment for Fibro is light excersize and a combination of sleep meds, muscle relaxers and NON narcotic pain Medication. Anti inflamatories are very helpfull and Tylenol or Darvocet or Vicodan will relieve pain where Demerol or Morphine will not, RLS often accompanies Fibro, Sleep disorders almost always

accompany Fibro, the pain can feel like it is in a joint but is in the tissue, it is usually diagnosed by a Rheumatologist.

numbness in extremities is common, as well as skin tenderness where you can't even breathe on areas of skin with out excruciating pain, the pain can come and go, can be affected by temperature in the room and especially b stress. It can have pleurisy like symptoms where it hurts to breathe or you are short of breath. Generally if you have had Fibro long you will have some GI distress especially IBS.. What you describe COULD be fibro or it could be a number of other things, Check with the Arthritis Foundation for information about Fibro. this illness falls under there umbrella of illnesses, they are more likel to be able to tell you a yes or no on if what you have is fibro....I know it will cost a bit to go to a specialist so check on theArthritis foundation for specific info to see if you can matchup your symptms with there list of symptoms and treatment programs for relief..

Good Luck fibro is manageable with the right Dr and physical therapist and pain management team. Your symptoms do sound a bit like fibro.....Antidepressants are the first medicine they usually try with fibro, so don't dismiss the depression angle, the antidepressants work on the seratonin levels in te brain which also cause fibro flare ups, Fibro also REQUIRES a bit of extra sleep since you often do not get REM sleep with the pain from Fibro..

At first fibromyalgia was not considered a disease. Som doc's aid that we exagerrated the pain. The doc's can't feel the pain u r feeing. They try 2 say that we would have pain that was not there. If there's 1 thing they can't prove is the amount of pain a person feels. Severe depression can cause all those pains u say u r having. Have u checked if u have arthritis? Have u seen a psychologist or psychiatrist? That does not mean u r crazy. Mayb u r going through a diifficult time in ur life that is causing all these things 2 u. I don't think there is anything else wrong w/ u. Get a psychiatrist app't and they will evaluate u & determine the problem. U can't sleep or go through a days work bcause of the fibro. There's medication 4 that & they can also prescribe u sleeping pills. At the same time they assign a therapist who u can talk 2 & it is confidential. Try what i'm telling u & c what happens. I wish u all the luck so u can figure out what's wrong & get the help u need. Don't give up. get well soon.

I have had fibromyalgia since 1994. The IBS has been longer and migraines longer yet. Pick up some melatonin at the store, and try taking it <3 mgs, or 6mgs> before bed. Also get some Vitamin D(3) and take at least 1000 mgs. per day. Try these things for a few weeks and keep warm, see if you don't get some improvement.

Acupuncture has helped me quite a bit , but it is expensive and I can't go as often as I'd like.

Peppermint is good for IBS. It isn't a cure, but it helps.

Here are a few sites that have helped me:

http://www.helpforibs.com/

http://lef.org/

<look up fibro and IBS>

The amino acid, L-Glutamine has helped with aches and pains and bowel problems.

If you are interested, email me and I can tell you some of the cheapest places I've found to get some of these supplements.

Acupuncture has helped to get rid of the numbness, which was getting worse for years after car accidents. The important thing to remember, is that you can and will get better!

Of course you're depressed when you hurt like this! But it the depression followed the other stuff, didn't it? Try fish oil for that.

Doctors have not been of much help to me.

I have anxiety and palpitations. I try meditiation for that. I have to use what I can do for myself to get better. Take baths with epsom salts and lavender oil and stuff like that. Taking an expensive drug will probably not help, but some of the things here will, at least they have really helped me.

I don't know how often depression accompanies fibro but in my case, the more the pain, the more depressed I would get. For years from early childhood into my 20s I suffered from excruciating pain and cramps, had difficulty sleeping and extreme difficulty getting out of bed in the morning because of pain and stiffness. It is the feeling of helplessness and lack of mobility, that led to my depression. I don't believe depression just comes from nowhere, there is always an underlying reason and it is often because of physical conditions such as fibromyalgia -- a term invented in 1976 and given the official stamp of 'disease' by the AMA in 1987.

Try the following relaxation 'exercise': spend 10 - 20 minutes, twice a day, lying down, and focusing on each part of the body for about 10 seconds, eg. right foot (count to 10 if that makes it easier), then the left foot, right lower leg, left lower leg etc. Resist the urge to move and turn, just observe and focus, stop if you become too restless. The effect is cumulative but it works.

I am not a doctor but have done extensive research, learned much from my own experience, and wrote a book about self-healing.

Well I have fibromyalgia and it sure sounds like it to me. It is very expensive to be diagnosed with it because of all the tests they will want to run. Honestly none of the Rx that have ever been prescribed to me for it has not helped me. The one thing that has helped me is cutting out MSG in my diet. I had just started taking Sam-e I have heard it really helps, I have taken Glucosamine and Condroitin and that helped some. I do know from experience that if you can get some good sleep it really helps and if you can reduce stress that really relieves symptoms. And I must warm up before excercise and cool down after excercise or I will completely stiffen up. Warmth helps relieve my pain and stiffness. Expect to pay $200-$250 for a first time office visit for the specialist. My dr. wanted a MRI that was $750 and about 10 Xrays at about $75 each and he order about $300 in blood tests. I don't have insurance either and a private place to have an MRI done wanted it to be paid in full first, but the county hospital billed me. Sometimes drs or labs will refuse you or make you pay cash up front if you don't have insurance. So in my own experience Ibuprofen and the natural remedies gave me the most relief and I don't have to see a dr to get that. I wish you the best and may God bless you.

I am so sorry for what you are going through. I myself have been diagnosed with both fibromyalgia and CFS. To make this diagnosis though, a doctor has to rule out other "more serious" illnesses. I say this because, it hurts enough as it is, as if it weren't serious enough! Usually if they can't figure out what you have they label it "fibromyalgia". It also has to do with the Epstein Barr virus, and certain pressure points your doctor will focus on. Sorry to say, there is no cure, however there are ways to make yourself more comfortable, and things you can try. Your doctor will fill you in on this. You may need something for your depression, and anxiety. Don't be ashamed to ask. I feel so much better, even though this is a day to day battle. I hope the best to you.

I have been suffering with most of the same syptoms, at one point I thought I was losing it everytime i went to the doctor they could find nothing wrong and I knew the pain was there. Believe me I know what you're going through if no one else does. I do have Fibromyalgia, and the best treatment is support.

Fibro sufferers, my heart goes out to you. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, my son and niece have MS and my sister has Fibromyalgia. Conincidence? I think not. I have found a liquid nutritional supplement that has enabled me to live a normal life without pain or medications. For more information, please email me and I will lead you to a site of the supplement as well as testimonies from people who have suffered with this disease and now is getting relief.

Have you checked out Multiple Sclerosis? Or maybe Lupus? I have Lupus and I know it is different for everyone, but much of the symptoms you describe sound familiar. I hope you get some help soon, I know how awful it is to not know what is going on with your body. I thought I might be going crazy. Good Luck!

Sorry but you need to go see a doctor. Somethings can't and shouldn't be diagnosed over the internet. Some of your symptoms are concerning and you need to find a way to get some answers, the internet is not the answer here.